How To File a VA Disability Appeal
You have the right to appeal any benefits decision made by the Veterans Benefits Administration. The VA appeals process is set in law and is different from other judicial appeals processes. Find out how to file an appeal.
Has VA medical care caused you an injury or other harm?
You can sue the VA for medical malpractice but it's a complex process and you'll want lawyers who have
done this successfully in the past. There are strict time limits and draconian regulations to follow.
Get some advice today...call now!
For Better Brain Health, Preserve Your Hearing
Hearing loss is the largest modifiable risk factor for developing dementia, exceeding that of smoking, high blood pressure, lack of exercise and social isolation.
Give veterans more health care options!
Tell your lawmaker
Veterans deserve more choice
Hello Jim...
Can you help me with....
Family Medical Leave Act problems after husband's deployment
Vet being harassed at work
VA doctor malpractice
Child support arrears create hardship
68 year old veteran with cancer
When did the Vietnam era start
Radiation treatment for prostate cancer and now C& P exam
Diabetes claim secondary to OSA
Revisiting child support order
Gulf War veteran behavior found to be willful misconduct
All these and many more answers to your questions can be found at
Medical Marijuana Card
Tell the doctor you saw it on VAWatchdog
and ask about veterans discounts!
We get $2,470 a month from Social Security
and want a warm, friendly city near the ocean.
Government Accountability Office
Focus Needed to Prevent Disqualified Providers from Delivering
VA launches online patient portal for veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
announced the launch of an online patient portal
this month that will provide service veterans
with digital access to their patient statements.
Why Getting a Diagnosis Matters
A diagnosis does so much more than get noted in your medical history. It also can help you apply for programs like Social Security Disability and medical marijuana cards. And maybe even more importantly, it can help you explain yourself to friends, colleagues and family.
I did that for years & it's
the best thing ever. Get
into the belly of the beast.
Do You Need
Medical Care
RIGHT NOW?
You are already authorized
to use an urgent
care clinic!
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Create or update your will fast / 100% free
Make your will with FreeWill today
Healthcare directives,
proxies, living wills and durable financial power of attorney.
All are free to use.
Is your disability pay fair game in a divorce?
(Yeah, it is...)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Launchpad
App for Veterans (VA Launchpad) contains select VA applications (apps) for Veterans and their Caregivers.
New apps will automatically appear in the VA Launchpad when they become available. Organizing VA health information and resources into five categories, it quickly accesses and launches the VA app of your choice. With VA Launchpad, VA intends to save you time and help you better integrate available VA apps into your life.
The Schedule For Rating Disabilities
If you're thinking of filing a claim or initiating an appeal of a denied claim, this is your new best friend. The details of exactly what you need to meet a rating are here and in use every day. Yes, it's complex. Yes, it's cumbersome. Yes, knowing how to use The Schedule is a necessity if you want to file a successful claim. Go for it!
Vets being duped by Social Security rumor mill
Owe VA Money???
To Loneliness And Isolation For Seniors
Did you know that hearing loss and tinnitus are the
most commonly rated veterans disabilities? Did you
know that hearing loss and tinnitus can cause
other secondary conditions, particularly mental
health problems like depression and loneliness?
Chronic Pain Is an Impossible Problem
A “safe” alternative to opioid painkillers
turns out to be not so safe.
Jim Strickland is a Vietnam era Army veteran and nationally recognized expert on VA disability benefits
and a member of the Stateside Legal Website Advisory Board. Jim's Mailbag, is a regular column where veterans,
servicemembers, and family members can ask Jim their questions about VA and Social Security disability benefits.
You can browse all of these Q&As here, and search the Jim's Mailbag archives for helpful answers.
Veterans Who Apply for Social Security Disabled-Worker Benefits After Receiving a Department of Veterans Affairs Rating of “Total Disability” for Service-Connected Impairments: Characteristics and Outcomes
A Few Of The Most Common Processes You Need To Know To DIY Your Claim
Everything you ever wanted to know about how
the VA benefits system works but were afraid to ask.
Welcome to the
VAWatchdog Dot Org
Just who do you think you are?
Stats about veterans.
Percent of U.S. adult population who are veterans in 2017, by state
Employment Data for Veterans With Disabilities
Employment Situation of Veterans Summary
Immigrant Veterans in the United States
Demographics of the U.S. Military
Veterans and Military Documents
Military Programs and Benefits
Research A Veteran
Tobacco Use in the Military
Facts on Veterans and Entrepreneurship
American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
Tinnitus and hearing loss among
Veteran Social Security Beneficiaries
Veteran-Owned Businesses and Their Owners
48 Interesting U.S. Military Facts
The American Veteran Experience and the Post-9/11 Generation
National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics - Quick Facts
Global Firepower - 2019 World Military Strength Rankings
Medical Malpractice - Veterans 1151 Claims
VA Malpractice Attorneys Helping Veterans Harmed By The VA
Veterans Healthcare Rights - Federal Tort Claims -
VA Medical Malpractice Claims, Misdiagnosis, Hospital Negligence, Medical Errors
For a review of your VA malpractice case contact our lawyers today. Our firm serves throughout the nation, and is one of the few firms to have specialized experience in VA malpractice cases.
Call Now! (949) 640-8222
PAPER Evidence Records
and Claims All Go Here
V A Claims Intake Center
PO BOX 4444
JANESVILLE, WI
53547- 4444
Toll Free Fax:
844-531-7818
Key findings about America’s military veterans
The experiences of post-9/11 veterans differ from
those who served in previous eras. Post-9/11
veterans more likely to have been deployed,
seen combat, experienced emotional trauma
Military Records DD 214
Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs)
Official Personnel Folders (OPF)
Can VA Disability Compensation Be Used
to Calculate Child Support or Income?
Veterans' disability benefits are compensation
for the veteran's impaired earning capacity and are intended
to "provide reasonable and adequate compensation for
disabled veterans and their families." They are not
supposed to be for the sole support of the veteran, but
can be counted in child support calculations to provide
for the veteran's dependents as well. If the veteran wasn't disabled, he would be earning an income upon which the
court would base child support; since disability benefits replace that income, child support can be based upon it.
Should I file a claim?
Potential VA claims?
What am I missing in the VA claims process?
Best way to check on a supplemental claim online?
Confused on what to do with claim.
Dependent status with education benefits.
Suing the VA for negligence and malpractice.
Why You Need An IMO!
Accuracy of Claims Decisions Involving
The OIG determined that VBA incorrectly
processed more than half
of the 62,500 veterans’ claims.
You've Arrived at the VAWatchdog Dot Org!
Welcome Home
We've been keeping veterans informed of news and events important to them since 2005.
You'll find all you need to file your claim and referrals to professionals who can help you when things don't go well.
What you won't find here is unending chat or opinions from strangers who like to think of themselves as experts.
Our goal is to ensure that you are awarded the benefits you earned with your service to our country.
We're here to help you take charge of your benefits, and that is all.
Extra schedular ratings under
How can I get an extra schedular rating?
To receive an extra schedular rating the veteran
must first show that the veteran’s
conditions result in a disability picture
that is not covered by the schedule of ratings.
C&P Service Clinician’s Guide
Scheduled For A C & P??? Filing A Claim?
This is a must read for you!!!
I've been posting this again and again over the years
and it's still one of the best ways I know to win
your case. Published in 2002 the principles and much of
the verbiage still applies and is in daily use at the VA.
Gregory M. Rada - A Veteran for Veterans
Focusing on appeals involving psychiatric conditions
and/or individual unemployability (TDIU)
Proven Results • Direct Communication • No Fees Unless You Win
Nationwide Representation
Free Phone Consultations - (844) 838-7529
Misuse of Certain Nonopioid Analgesics on the Rise
Gabapentin, Baclofen May Be Seen
as Opioid Alternatives
What You Need to Know About How
Section 8 Really Works
Based on our reporting, we created a guide to the Section 8 program. You’ll learn how to apply, how to qualify for a voucher and what it’s like to live in Section 8 housing.
Trump Administration Weighs Tighter Requirements
for Disability Payments
Older workers would be among those most affected
Another Disability Disaster in the Making
The Trump administration’s Social Security proposal would repeat one of Ronald Reagan’s most damaging mistakes.
Accrued Benefits and Substitution
What are Accrued Benefits? Accrued benefits are benefits that are due, but not paid prior to a Veteran’s death.
If you are an honorably discharged veteran, you served your country well and you earned
certain benefits. Sad to say, sometimes it can be difficult for the veteran to obtain the earned
benefits guaranteed by law. Veterans need a recognized medical expert who knows the VA
system. As a disabled veteran himself and a respected, board certified physician, Dr. Bash fits the
need—and adds even further insight as a VA-accredited service organization representative.
Call 925-381-7561 Email drbash@doctor.com
End VA’s Individual Unemployability
Payments to Disabled Veterans
at the Full Retirement Age for Social Security
VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION:
Actions Needed to Enhance Information
about Veterans' Health Outcomes
The Department of Veterans Affairs pays monthly compensation to veterans with disabling conditions
caused or aggravated by their military service. We
found that more than half of the veterans receiving
disability compensation used VA health care for their conditions. However, VA does not have a clear picture of whether these services improve veterans’ health. VA could also enhance its process for determining when to reevaluate possible changes in health conditions.
The End of Retirement
The conventional wisdom—save enough to retire at age 65—won’t work for the generation starting their careers today, writes columnist John D. Stoll.
Independent Medical Opinions
Disability Benefit Questionnaires (DBQ's)
Service & Civilian Medical Record Reviews
Nexus Letters
Social Security Scammers Are Trying a New Trick
These criminals have added fake emailed documents to their repertoires -- often using the official SSA letterhead.
VA, lawmakers trade barbs after sexual assault
claim from congressional staffer
Top Veterans Affairs officials are criticizing a key congressional staffer for reporting an “unsubstantiated” sexual assault incident at a VA medical center, saying the accusation could discourage public trust in the institution.
VA IG Warns Long Wait Times Could
Continue with Mission Act Reforms
Department of Veterans Affairs patients seeking private sector health care saw a nearly two-month delay for medical appointments in 2018 and the problem could worsen under the new Mission Act, the VA Office of Inspector General reported Thursday.
Trump Says the U.S. Is Ready for War.
Not All His Troops Are So Sure.
A series of accidents calls the
military’s preparedness into question.
Here's How Your Marital Status Affects
Your Social Security Benefits
Married, widowed, or divorced? You'll want to read this.
Testosterone treatment should be given only
for sexual dysfunction, guideline suggests
There's no evidence that long-term
testosterone treatment is a "fountain of youth."
Drew Early Veterans Law Attorney
Graduate of the US Military Academy, West Point
Adjunct Professor - Emory University Law School
20 Years Army Service - Airborne - Explosive Ordnance Badge
Free Case Review - Nationwide Representation
BVA/DRO Appeals - Fiduciary & Caregiver Issues, Trusts, Wills
Appeals of Veterans & Survivor Claims
(770) 939-1939
All the Ways Google Tracks You
Here's how to keep it from tracking your location,
web browsing, and more.
Appropriators feel the squeeze of budget caps
as veterans health funding grows
Nondefense programs could soon see
spending cuts unless Congress makes adjustments
How to File Your State and Federal
Taxes for Free in 2020
TurboTax and other tax prep services advertised themselves as “free,” but we found several ways that they tricked people into paying. Here's our guide to preparing and filing your taxes without falling into a trap.
PTSD, MST, TBI,
Agent Orange Exposure, Back Injuries
Gulf War Syndrome, Migraines, Heart & Vascular Disease,
DIC, Unemployability TDIU
Free Veterans Disability Consultation! Call Now! (800) 742-5035
Roger Hale, Veterans Law Attorney
Personal Injury Lawyer - Free Consultation For Veterans
Industrial Accidents Nursing Home Negligence Car Accidents
Workers Compensation Veterans Law
Pain & Suffering Emotional & Mental Anguish
(405) 531-9983
37 States That Don't Tax Social Security Benefits
Want to minimize taxes on your Social Security income? Here's what you need to know.
National Park Passes
Veterans, with a service-connected disability rating, are entering Federal recreation lands and national parks for free with an America the Beautiful-the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands lifetime Access Pass.
Veterans Law At Your Service
PTSD and other mental impairments
Military Sexual Trauma
Traumatic Brain Injury
Agent Orange exposure
Camp Lejeune water contamination
Gulf War Syndrome
Asbestos or Radiation exposure
Federal Tort Claims/Title 38 U.S.C. 1151
Also known as FTCA and Section 1151 Claims
844 244 VETS (8387)
Veterans PTSD Assessments
Independent Medical Opinions PTSD DBQs
Thomas Grieder, MD, PhD
Twenty five years service as a VA psychiatrist
Assistant Professor and Associate Clinical Professor
UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Lead psychiatrist for the East Los Angeles PTSD Clinical Team
The Law Offices of David Anaise, MD JD
Board Certified Physician/Surgeon Accredited Veterans Law Attorney Military Veteran
DRO, BVA, CAVC Appeals Nexus Letters Independent Medical Opinions
Has Your Claim Been Denied? Do you need an IMO or a DBQ?
You'll need to speak with an expert physician and then a veterans law attorney.
Why not speak with both at the same time?
(520) 219-7321 Free Case Evaluation (520) 219-7344
Proposed Social Security disability
changes could cut off disabled recipients
Under the proposal, millions more reviews would be conducted and hundreds of thousands of people
would have reviews more frequently.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, who sits on the House
Ways and Means Committee, which has oversight over Social Security, said he is supportive of the proposal.
Veterans Psych Evaluations
Brett Valette, Ph.D.
Providing Military Veterans Personalized Psychological and Medical Evaluations. Complete the Contact form,
and you'll get a personal phone call from us. We listen, and want to know what you are going through.
We provide Independent Medical Evaluations (IME), Independent Medical Opinions (IMO) and
nexus letters for ratings reviews, secondary conditions, medical conditions, discharge upgrades,
and many types of denied claims. We also provide Social Security Disability claim reports.
Some Wounds Can't Be Seen
Lodging & Camping in southern Illinois with access to the Shawnee National
We offer lodging, camping,
stabling, corral, pasture,
access to a hunting lease and
discounts for America's
military veterans!
Get your VA medical records online
Our online tools can help you view, organize,
and share your VA medical records and personal
health information. Find out if you’re eligible
and how to sign in to start using these tools.
How to ensure seamless care while traveling
Overpayment? VA proposing to claw back
money from your benefits? Submit a Compromise
Offer to the Debt Management Center.
November 19th 2019
'How To Lie With Statistics'
How to file a VA disability claim
Find out how to file a claim for disability compensation
or increased disability compensation.
Veteran Disability Claims: Nexus and IMO Letters
To meet the nexus requirement, the veteran must have an evaluation by a physician that will establish that the veteran is indeed disabled and also that his disability is as likely as not caused by his military service. There are two methods used to establish such a nexus; one is independent medical examination and the other is independent medical opinion.
An IMO by an expert often makes the difference!
Google Tracks You
and we don't.
DuckDuckGo apps block
Google's hidden trackers.
The world needs an alternative
Robert Wilkie <robert.wilkie@va.gov> 855-948-2311
How to download VA benefit letters
To receive some benefits, Veterans need
a letter proving their status. Access and
download your VA Benefit Summary Letter (sometimes called a VA award letter) and
other benefit letters and documents online.
The Google IT Support Professional Certificate
The IT Support Professional Certificate, developed by Google and hosted on Coursera, can help you become ready for an entry-level job in IT support in under six months. No experience is necessary.
Disclosure of Certain Protected Records
Without Written Consent - (VA) proposes to amend its regulations on disclosure of certain records. now authorize VA to disclose certain protected records to non-VA
entities (including private entities and other Federal agencies) for purposes of providing health care or performing other health care-related activities or functions.
your disability claim
If you’ve filed a claim for disability compensation, you can continue uploading more evidence for up to one year to support your claim. Evidence may include supporting documents like medical test results, doctor’s reports, and other records. Upload your evidence online now.
Other-than-honorable discharge?
You’re still eligible for VA mental health care
VA Releases Survivors Quick Start Guide
Reference guide to help during final
arrangements planning
What You Should Know about Disability and Debt
There Are Protections...When it comes to debt collection, disability income enjoys special status.
How Divorce, Alimony, and Child Support
Affect Veterans' VA Benefits
VA benefits can be garnished only for spousal
or child support, and only under certain conditions.
Your 2020 Guide to Social Security Benefits
Whether you’re claiming Social Security in 2020, have been collecting benefits for years, or are still decades away, here’s what you need to know about this critically important retirement program.
Presumptive Benefits...what are they?
When you claim that a disabling condition is caused by military service, you have to prove that allegation.
Or do you?
How Do You Apply For Social Security Disability Benefits?
Information on social security disability benefits
Managing Risks and Improving VA Health Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken
steps to maintain its leadership commitment and develop its action plan, but still needs to demonstrate capacity
and establish metrics to monitor and demonstrate
progress addressing VA health care concerns.
Urgent Care Centers
One of the most important benefits you have today is
the authorization to use an urgent care center
near to you. But first, you have to
to take with you. Don't wait until you need this
benefit to prepare for it. Read this now,
print your papers and be prepared!